Mons designated European Capital of Culture

Commissioner Vassiliou congratulated Mons on its designation as European
Capital of Culture in 2015. "The European Capitals of Culture are a unique
opportunity for cities to reap benefits in cultural, social and economic
terms and to raise their visibility and profile on an international scale",
she commented.

Digital Agenda

Vice-President Kroes and Commissioner Vassiliou addressed the priority
actions identified by the EU's Digital Agenda for Europe (see IP/10/581
MEMO/10/199 and MEMO/10/200) to help the cultural and audiovisual sectors
in Europe seize the opportunities of new technologies. They urged Ministers
to support specific actions on Intellectual Property Rights, including
collective rights management and solutions to orphan works, online
distribution of audiovisual works and other creative content, the promotion
of cultural and creative industries and the digitisation of cinema.
Commissioner Vassiliou underlined that "Digital technologies have an
important role to play in increasing the competitiveness of the European
film industry". 

Vice-President Kroes stressed that "the digital age is not a threat for
culture and creation, but rather an opportunity" and appealed to Ministers
to actively support the implementation of the Digital Agenda in all its
aspects. Kroes gave the example of the roll-out of broadband networks for
all by 2013 and of fast and ultrafast broadband by 2020 (see IP/10/1142),
which inter alia requires that there is sufficient radio spectrum made
available for wireless broadband (see MEMO/10/425). "Broadband will open up
tremendous new opportunities for the distribution of cultural and
audiovisual works to the benefit of Europe's citizens, artists and
authors", Kroes stressed.

Cinema

The Council adopted conclusions endorsing the Commission's recent papers
on the opportunities and challenges for European Cinema (IP/10/1168) and on
European film heritage, including the challenges of the digital era
(IP/10/894). Commissioner Vassiliou thanked Member States and the Belgian
Presidency for their support for the Commission's policy on digitisation of
cinema, in particular the €4 million support mechanism foreseen within
the MEDIA programme that will start in 2011. Vassiliou also urged Member
States to use the EU's Structural Funds to the full for this purpose.
Vice-President Kroes welcomed the Council conclusions "because to build a
rich film heritage for this and future generations, our cultural
institutions need money and they need a favourable legal framework". Kroes
underlined to Ministers that the rules must be clarified to bring this
legal certainty and that "Member States must work to ensure that film
heritage is fully integrated in their film policy and that cultural and
educational uses are facilitated for funded films at regional and national
level."

Digitisation

The Reflection Group ('Comité des Sages') on bringing Europe's cultural
heritage online, set up in April 2010 (IP/10/456), briefed Ministers,
Commissioner Vassiliou and Commission Vice-President Kroes about the work
it has done so far, including the results of the public consultation which
ran between August and September 2010 (IP/10/1055) and the public hearing
which took place on 28 October 2010. There are still serious legal
obstacles that stand in the way of more widespread digitisation of works,
not just for material that is still in copyright, but also for the
so-called orphan works (whose right holders are unknown). The report is due
at the beginning of 2011.

Kroes commented "Digitising, making available online and preserving our
cultural heritage, is a huge challenge for our times. One key instrument to
reach this goal is to continue our collective support to the European
portal Europeana, the web portal of Europe's libraries, museums and
archives." Kroes urged the 'Comité des Sages' to come up with ambitious
recommendations to, inter alia, make it easier for cultural institutions to
digitise their collections and give access to them through Europeana (see
IP/10/1524 and MEMO/10/586). Commissioner Vassiliou noted that "there must
be a good balance between giving full access for citizens to cultural
content and the need to protect the rights of the creators". 

Role of culture in combating poverty and social exclusion

The Council adopted conclusions that highlight the enormous social and
economic benefits of culture-based projects. Commissioner Vassiliou
commented that "These projects encourage collaboration across policy
borders and I urged Member States and regions to incorporate culture into
their social cohesion strategies. I am convinced that these conclusions
will become a key reference for future initiatives on mobilising culture as
a resource to fight against social inequality."

European Heritage Label

The Council took stock of progress report on establishing the European
Heritage Label as an EU initiative. The label would set up an independent
panel to select sites that celebrate and symbolize European integration,
ideals and history. It is hoped the new-look label will come into effect in
2011 or 2012 (see IP/10/250). Commissioner Vassiliou commented "I am
confident that the Label will be a reality very soon and will play a key
role in safeguarding our heritage."

(Source: http://europa.eu)


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